Students in Ms. Aucoin's class should please read the following article:
http://michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/fortune-500-profits-bounce-back
Students should choose one quote they find most interesting, and then add commentary.
And be glad you're not my students taking 6 days worth of 6 hour exams that start at 5 am so they can be in sync with students in Europe :)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
DIY Government
The UK is having elections on May 6, 2010 and this article examines some of Conservatives' proposals namely Do It Yourself government.
Read this article http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/14/election-2010-conservatives-big-society
Then in order to decide how much autonomy is really good you might reflect on the following areas. Do you generally feel favorably or unfavorably about doing the following:
1. Planning your own vacation on the internet
2. Using self check-out at the grocery store
3. Figuring out your own taxes
4. Doing your own banking online
5. Taking/Developing/Sharing your own photos
6. Voting in local elections
7. Voting in national elections
8. Deciding how your h.s. is run (repairs, hiring, activities)
9. Using the local libraries
10. Participating in community activities
11. Watching tv on the net
12. Dividing your own trash and recycling
13. Providing your own transportation to get where you are going
14. Cleaning up your neighborhood
After you think about that you should decide which areas of daily life should be taken care of by you, by the government or by a private company. For those students studying economics you might consider what the fiscal implications are to having or not having DIY governement. How much do we really want the government to take care of and how much are we willing to pay for it?
I thank all my dedicated students who came to class on Thursday. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. And I look forward to reading your responses.
Read this article http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/14/election-2010-conservatives-big-society
Then in order to decide how much autonomy is really good you might reflect on the following areas. Do you generally feel favorably or unfavorably about doing the following:
1. Planning your own vacation on the internet
2. Using self check-out at the grocery store
3. Figuring out your own taxes
4. Doing your own banking online
5. Taking/Developing/Sharing your own photos
6. Voting in local elections
7. Voting in national elections
8. Deciding how your h.s. is run (repairs, hiring, activities)
9. Using the local libraries
10. Participating in community activities
11. Watching tv on the net
12. Dividing your own trash and recycling
13. Providing your own transportation to get where you are going
14. Cleaning up your neighborhood
After you think about that you should decide which areas of daily life should be taken care of by you, by the government or by a private company. For those students studying economics you might consider what the fiscal implications are to having or not having DIY governement. How much do we really want the government to take care of and how much are we willing to pay for it?
I thank all my dedicated students who came to class on Thursday. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. And I look forward to reading your responses.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Historical Healthcare Reform
Here's an explanation of some of the new reform:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/your-money/health-insurance/22consumer.html
Reading the press I was surprised at this legistlation being described as the 21st century Civil Rights Act. Is that a fair comparison?
Are you surprised it actually passed? What parts of this reform are you excited about? What do you feel might not go far enough or might not really make a difference?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/your-money/health-insurance/22consumer.html
Reading the press I was surprised at this legistlation being described as the 21st century Civil Rights Act. Is that a fair comparison?
Are you surprised it actually passed? What parts of this reform are you excited about? What do you feel might not go far enough or might not really make a difference?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Haiti and Trade Schools
Ms. Aucoin has chosen this article for this week's blog:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14schools.html?hpw
She would like you to pick out a quote or two and comment on it.
For my class I'm eager to get back to the discussion of Haiti that we started last week. I didn't get to read all the blogs before class last week because there was a power outage from 6 p.m until 6 a.m. Then I went to school and there was no flushing of toilets or water because due to the drought we are experiencing in Martinique the water was cut for 12 hours. The article suggests that Cuba is better than Haiti because Cubans have water, electricity, and all the important aspects of a working infrastructure. Some Martinican people have explained to me that if everything is so expensive in Martinique (5 dollars for a dozen eggs for example) it is in fact a good thing because it goes to financing a lot of the equality (i.e. workers are not exploited) and infrastructure that we have here. So this article in The Guardian left me with a lot of questions:
1. The article says the Western governments and by extention the people who live under those governments are responsible for the exploitative policy that have caused the current situation on Haiti. Am I really responsbile for the admittedly atrocious and very exploitative policies that led to deforestation and the end of sustainable agriculture that happened when the U.S. government occupied Haiti in the early 20th century? Are you, Martinicans, responsible for the colonisation of Haiti by the French government? If so how do we assume that responsbility and how far does it go?
2. What is the best way to help Haiti? Who is best qualified to do so (i.e. Non-Governmental Organizations, the UN, a coalition of many different governments)?*
3. What model might Haitians look to for a way to rebuild and reconstruct their society?
* A brief antecdote as a footnote. A French man in the military flew to Haiti from Fort de France immediately following the earthquake to head the French relief efforts. He told me that the Americans had taken complete control of the airport and would only allow airplanes from other nations in when they weren't using the airport which was the vast majority of the time. After a few days he told me there were clearly directives from above which created a different environment and that the Americans went out of their way (especially in front of the press corps) to show that they were happy to work with others. I mention this story as an indication that even when everyone is full of good will and trying to help it doesn't always work. I, as an American, was outraged when I heard the story to think of some planes having to fly back to Fort de France. At the same time it seems to me that the U.S. is often criticized for not helping more and then when they take over that doesn't work either.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14schools.html?hpw
She would like you to pick out a quote or two and comment on it.
For my class I'm eager to get back to the discussion of Haiti that we started last week. I didn't get to read all the blogs before class last week because there was a power outage from 6 p.m until 6 a.m. Then I went to school and there was no flushing of toilets or water because due to the drought we are experiencing in Martinique the water was cut for 12 hours. The article suggests that Cuba is better than Haiti because Cubans have water, electricity, and all the important aspects of a working infrastructure. Some Martinican people have explained to me that if everything is so expensive in Martinique (5 dollars for a dozen eggs for example) it is in fact a good thing because it goes to financing a lot of the equality (i.e. workers are not exploited) and infrastructure that we have here. So this article in The Guardian left me with a lot of questions:
1. The article says the Western governments and by extention the people who live under those governments are responsible for the exploitative policy that have caused the current situation on Haiti. Am I really responsbile for the admittedly atrocious and very exploitative policies that led to deforestation and the end of sustainable agriculture that happened when the U.S. government occupied Haiti in the early 20th century? Are you, Martinicans, responsible for the colonisation of Haiti by the French government? If so how do we assume that responsbility and how far does it go?
2. What is the best way to help Haiti? Who is best qualified to do so (i.e. Non-Governmental Organizations, the UN, a coalition of many different governments)?*
3. What model might Haitians look to for a way to rebuild and reconstruct their society?
* A brief antecdote as a footnote. A French man in the military flew to Haiti from Fort de France immediately following the earthquake to head the French relief efforts. He told me that the Americans had taken complete control of the airport and would only allow airplanes from other nations in when they weren't using the airport which was the vast majority of the time. After a few days he told me there were clearly directives from above which created a different environment and that the Americans went out of their way (especially in front of the press corps) to show that they were happy to work with others. I mention this story as an indication that even when everyone is full of good will and trying to help it doesn't always work. I, as an American, was outraged when I heard the story to think of some planes having to fly back to Fort de France. At the same time it seems to me that the U.S. is often criticized for not helping more and then when they take over that doesn't work either.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Friedman's view on America's future
Here's this week's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/opinion/03friedman.html
Please answer these questions:
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
Some students requested an article on Haiti and I found this interesting one from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jan/29/religion-haiti
1. Who is responsible for Haiti's current dire situation?
2. Whose responsibility is it to improve the situation? Do you agree?
3. The article does not suggest exactly what we should do to improve the situation. Do you have any suggestions?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/opinion/03friedman.html
Please answer these questions:
1. How optimistic is Friedman about America's future? Why?
2. What should we be doing to make our country stronger?
3. What's your opinion on America's place in the world economy?
Some students requested an article on Haiti and I found this interesting one from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jan/29/religion-haiti
1. Who is responsible for Haiti's current dire situation?
2. Whose responsibility is it to improve the situation? Do you agree?
3. The article does not suggest exactly what we should do to improve the situation. Do you have any suggestions?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Economics of Abuse
I am so sorry I didn't post this sooner! Things in my house have been very crazy this week. I'm really really sorry!!!
.
Ms. Aucoin chose this article:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/01/domestic-violence-and-recession-35-dead-in-philadelphia-in-0/
1. Why has a connection been established between the economic recession and a rise in domestic violence?
2. Were you surprised by these findings? Explain.
3. Do you believe the problem of domestic violence to be fundamentally economic? Explain.
4. How could the rates of domestic violence be decreased? Should it involve government intervention? If so, how could the government intervene in meaningful ways?
Some of my students wanted to talk about Google and China. Here's the article I found
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/asia/13beijing.html?pagewanted=1
My Martinican students should come to class having read either article.
Here are the questions:
1. What policy has Google changed?
2. Is it a big deal that you cannot search for politically sensitive topics like the "Tiananmen Square Massacre" or the Dalai Lama?
3. What do Google and China have to lose from this change in policy?
4. What might either one of them gain?
Again my sincerest apologies!!!!
.
Ms. Aucoin chose this article:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/01/domestic-violence-and-recession-35-dead-in-philadelphia-in-0/
1. Why has a connection been established between the economic recession and a rise in domestic violence?
2. Were you surprised by these findings? Explain.
3. Do you believe the problem of domestic violence to be fundamentally economic? Explain.
4. How could the rates of domestic violence be decreased? Should it involve government intervention? If so, how could the government intervene in meaningful ways?
Some of my students wanted to talk about Google and China. Here's the article I found
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/asia/13beijing.html?pagewanted=1
My Martinican students should come to class having read either article.
Here are the questions:
1. What policy has Google changed?
2. Is it a big deal that you cannot search for politically sensitive topics like the "Tiananmen Square Massacre" or the Dalai Lama?
3. What do Google and China have to lose from this change in policy?
4. What might either one of them gain?
Again my sincerest apologies!!!!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
When should students start college level work?
A little background information so that you can understand where the American and Martinican students are coming from:
Nationally debate abounds as to whether high school curricula are rigorous enough to meet the demands of the 21st century. Many students take as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as possible ideally to challenge themselves and pursue subjects that they have a passion for but also undoubtedly to impress college admission officers with their seriousness and dedication to studying. Some teachers and students complain that students are taking on too hard a work load and that they are sacrificing too much. Nevertheless, AP class are becoming more and more popular and some students can get a year's worth of college credit or more while still in high school. Thus while in high school they are really doing college work.
In France the most ambitious and hard working students enter a post high school program called cours preparatoires which is to prepare them for a extremely difficult and competitve exam that would give them access to the most prestigious universities in France. Because fewer than 7% of the students who take the exam are allowed into the Ecole Normale Superieure (and remember it's only the very highly selected elite who even try) the vast majority of students go from the two years they spent studying in the cours preparatoires directly into third year at the university. These students are effectively getting two years of university education while still on the high school campus. From my American point of view this is a huge bargain because you don't pay for those two years but really even if you were to go directly to college in France college tuition costs are nominal so it doesn't really make a big economic difference. I do however think there are other differences like less freedom and less access to a high quality library. There is some talk that in the current desire to reform the high school system in France that the cours preparatoires might be moved to the university campus as a way to save money.
Please correct me if I've misrepresented any of the above information.
The article for this week questions when it is best for students to start studying college level work and also how society can best educate students at the lowest cost.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/a-diploma-in-10th-grade/
1. Read at least one of the experts's viewpoints and briefly summarizing it say whether you agree or disagree with it and why.
2. Give your own opinion as to how we might best educate our high school and college students.
You are encouraged to consider the economic implications of what you think would be the best system.
3. Reflect on your current education. Is society getting the best deal? Are you? What might be improved?
Nationally debate abounds as to whether high school curricula are rigorous enough to meet the demands of the 21st century. Many students take as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as possible ideally to challenge themselves and pursue subjects that they have a passion for but also undoubtedly to impress college admission officers with their seriousness and dedication to studying. Some teachers and students complain that students are taking on too hard a work load and that they are sacrificing too much. Nevertheless, AP class are becoming more and more popular and some students can get a year's worth of college credit or more while still in high school. Thus while in high school they are really doing college work.
In France the most ambitious and hard working students enter a post high school program called cours preparatoires which is to prepare them for a extremely difficult and competitve exam that would give them access to the most prestigious universities in France. Because fewer than 7% of the students who take the exam are allowed into the Ecole Normale Superieure (and remember it's only the very highly selected elite who even try) the vast majority of students go from the two years they spent studying in the cours preparatoires directly into third year at the university. These students are effectively getting two years of university education while still on the high school campus. From my American point of view this is a huge bargain because you don't pay for those two years but really even if you were to go directly to college in France college tuition costs are nominal so it doesn't really make a big economic difference. I do however think there are other differences like less freedom and less access to a high quality library. There is some talk that in the current desire to reform the high school system in France that the cours preparatoires might be moved to the university campus as a way to save money.
Please correct me if I've misrepresented any of the above information.
The article for this week questions when it is best for students to start studying college level work and also how society can best educate students at the lowest cost.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/a-diploma-in-10th-grade/
1. Read at least one of the experts's viewpoints and briefly summarizing it say whether you agree or disagree with it and why.
2. Give your own opinion as to how we might best educate our high school and college students.
You are encouraged to consider the economic implications of what you think would be the best system.
3. Reflect on your current education. Is society getting the best deal? Are you? What might be improved?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Are you a multi-tasker?
Thanks to Ms. Aucoin for finding us this great article. She suggested it because it highlights the question of opportunity cost but I think it will also be a great cultural exchange because I'm guess (we'll see if I'm wrong) that Martinicans are less likely to multi-task than the constantly on the go New Yorkers. Please read this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/technology/17distracted.html?emc=eta1
and consider these questions:
1. Do you multitask? If so, how?
2. According to the article, what are the potential side effects of multitasking?
3. Are the risks worth it?
4. Should society encourage -- or discourage -- multitasking?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/technology/17distracted.html?emc=eta1
and consider these questions:
1. Do you multitask? If so, how?
2. According to the article, what are the potential side effects of multitasking?
3. Are the risks worth it?
4. Should society encourage -- or discourage -- multitasking?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
American vs. European
Throughout this year I've appreciated the students's insights on various aspects of their culture and this article sums up a lot of the issues we have discussed.
Please read this article:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/america-v-europe/?ex=1279602000&en=2a109bc94ea08378&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=OP-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M133-ROS-0110-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click
Some questions that you might consider:
1. Why does David Brooks consider the American model better?
2. What is the real advantage of job security according to Gail Collins?
3. If you were to enter into this debate that Brooks qualifies as "unreal" because we aren't really given a choice on which model we prefer, which economy would you choose and why?
4. Is Brooks right that it is an "unreal" debate because we can't really choose? It seems to me that America is in many ways becoming more of a socialist country and that France is embracing many of the capitalist models that have been in practice in the U.S. for awhile now.
5. Finally, (for those in the literature class) what would Benjamin Franklin think? Is it a good idea to have a country where you might do the same job from age 25-65?
6. Conversely, is having the risk that you might suddenly find yourself unemployed or without health insurance worth the benefits that come with the American drive to always spur innovation, to always work harder and to constantly update your skills?
As you know I will be in Paris on Thursday and my husband Xavier Tourneux will be holding class. Mme Bonvoisin asked that the Spanish class be held in the foyer from 9-11 instead of my class and that the cours de presse d'anglais will be held in your usual Spanish classroom from 12-2. I hope you will be kind if you find my lost husband roaming batiment 7 and that you will impress him with your amazing English as much as you did Alex. :) I am extremely grateful to everyone for their cooperation.
Please read this article:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/america-v-europe/?ex=1279602000&en=2a109bc94ea08378&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=OP-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M133-ROS-0110-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click
Some questions that you might consider:
1. Why does David Brooks consider the American model better?
2. What is the real advantage of job security according to Gail Collins?
3. If you were to enter into this debate that Brooks qualifies as "unreal" because we aren't really given a choice on which model we prefer, which economy would you choose and why?
4. Is Brooks right that it is an "unreal" debate because we can't really choose? It seems to me that America is in many ways becoming more of a socialist country and that France is embracing many of the capitalist models that have been in practice in the U.S. for awhile now.
5. Finally, (for those in the literature class) what would Benjamin Franklin think? Is it a good idea to have a country where you might do the same job from age 25-65?
6. Conversely, is having the risk that you might suddenly find yourself unemployed or without health insurance worth the benefits that come with the American drive to always spur innovation, to always work harder and to constantly update your skills?
As you know I will be in Paris on Thursday and my husband Xavier Tourneux will be holding class. Mme Bonvoisin asked that the Spanish class be held in the foyer from 9-11 instead of my class and that the cours de presse d'anglais will be held in your usual Spanish classroom from 12-2. I hope you will be kind if you find my lost husband roaming batiment 7 and that you will impress him with your amazing English as much as you did Alex. :) I am extremely grateful to everyone for their cooperation.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Ideas for this week's blog
I'm searching for a good article for this week. Here are some possiblities. Any suggestions?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24kristof.html?ref=opinion
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24friedman.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/us/21charity.html?scp=1&sq=haiti%20donations%20baby%20formula&st=cse
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24kristof.html?ref=opinion
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24friedman.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/us/21charity.html?scp=1&sq=haiti%20donations%20baby%20formula&st=cse
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Happiness
The Fulbright organization spends a lot of time, money, and effort organizing the teacher exchanges and I have at times thought it well worth it and at times have seen that the cultural obstacles sometimes impede learning. (Two of the teachers in my cohort of 11 have dropped out.) My favorite teaching moment of the year so far has been thanks to Melanee's question on whether or not Benjamin Franklin was happy. She thought he worked too much and had too little leisure to have been happy. I explained that from my point of view for many Americans working is happiness. They have a sense of controling their destiny and moving forward towards greater things. According to Nicolas Kristoff there's another reason Benjamin Franklin must have been a very happy man.
Please read this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17kristof.html?em
Questions to consider:
1. What does Kristoff think we need to be happy? Do you agree or disagree?
2. How does this relate to our world both our local, daily every day lives and what is going on in Haiti?
3. How does this relate to Benjamin Franklin?
4. How does this relate to you? Do you consider yourself happy? Why or why not?
Please read this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17kristof.html?em
Questions to consider:
1. What does Kristoff think we need to be happy? Do you agree or disagree?
2. How does this relate to our world both our local, daily every day lives and what is going on in Haiti?
3. How does this relate to Benjamin Franklin?
4. How does this relate to you? Do you consider yourself happy? Why or why not?
Monday, January 11, 2010
On Trial's Sidelines
Hi everyone,
Here's this week's article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/us/11roeder.html?ref=us
Questions to Consider:
1. Why is this particular court case controversial?
2. What does this debate suggest about American views on abortion?
3. What are your views concerning this issue?
Here's this week's article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/us/11roeder.html?ref=us
Questions to Consider:
1. Why is this particular court case controversial?
2. What does this debate suggest about American views on abortion?
3. What are your views concerning this issue?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Bonne annee - Happy New Year
I wish you all a very happy new year. I hope that you had a restful vacation and that you were not stressed out rewriting your college essay for the University of Chicago. With that in mind I wanted to pick an article that was neither too taxing nor one that was too disconnected from your own reality. Here's your article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03careerism-t.html?em
Also in the New York Times I found this interesting article on what various New Yorkers hoped for the coming decade for New York. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/nyregion/03resolve.html?pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper) This is what Jennifer Raab, president of Hunter College had to say:
"We’re at a critical moment where the city has to really commit to becoming a leader in higher public education. It’s more important than ever now given the fact that people need a college degree to move into a middle-class lifestyle.
It’s about $38,000 for private institutions in New York — and that’s just tuition. At Hunter, it’s only $4,600 a year. So if you’re a sanitation worker and a nurse, say, with two kids, how do you pay $38,000 times two over four years?
When education begins to price itself out the range of the average New Yorker, that’s a problem.
I am wondering what you are planning on doing next year. What is a college education worth? What is the return on the investment of your time and money? Is Raab right when she suggests that if the price of a college education far excedes what some can pay that the foundation or our society and our democracy is at risk? Do you have the impression that you can get a valuable education without having to pay $53,000/year? Is there a sufficient amount of financial aid? Is it more important that we produce business majors with marketable skills rather than philosophy majors? Is the idea of a liberal arts education outdated?
For the Martincan students: What do you think about paying $53,000/year? If you go to la fac next year it will surely cost less. There are advantages and disadvantages of paying less. A common expression in English is, "you get what you pay for," to a certain degree that does indeed apply to a college education. Will you get the education you deserve? Would you like to study a year in an American university?
These questions are just to guide you. Please do not feel obligated to answer them all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03careerism-t.html?em
Also in the New York Times I found this interesting article on what various New Yorkers hoped for the coming decade for New York. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/nyregion/03resolve.html?pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper) This is what Jennifer Raab, president of Hunter College had to say:
"We’re at a critical moment where the city has to really commit to becoming a leader in higher public education. It’s more important than ever now given the fact that people need a college degree to move into a middle-class lifestyle.
It’s about $38,000 for private institutions in New York — and that’s just tuition. At Hunter, it’s only $4,600 a year. So if you’re a sanitation worker and a nurse, say, with two kids, how do you pay $38,000 times two over four years?
When education begins to price itself out the range of the average New Yorker, that’s a problem.
I am wondering what you are planning on doing next year. What is a college education worth? What is the return on the investment of your time and money? Is Raab right when she suggests that if the price of a college education far excedes what some can pay that the foundation or our society and our democracy is at risk? Do you have the impression that you can get a valuable education without having to pay $53,000/year? Is there a sufficient amount of financial aid? Is it more important that we produce business majors with marketable skills rather than philosophy majors? Is the idea of a liberal arts education outdated?
For the Martincan students: What do you think about paying $53,000/year? If you go to la fac next year it will surely cost less. There are advantages and disadvantages of paying less. A common expression in English is, "you get what you pay for," to a certain degree that does indeed apply to a college education. Will you get the education you deserve? Would you like to study a year in an American university?
These questions are just to guide you. Please do not feel obligated to answer them all.
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